Recently in Video Conferencing Category

Today, Dell will launch Dell Video Chat powered by SightSpeed, which will be pre-bundled on all consumer Dell PCs. Landing Dell is a major win for SightSpeed, a competitor to Skype, Microsoft Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and others.

I spoke with Eric Quanstrom, Vice President of Marketing for Sightspeed about this major annoucement. I also installed Dell Video Chat to check it out for myself, so I'll include some screenshots along the way.

Eric said, "We've been bundled with camera manufactureres before but we've never been resident on OEM PC hardware. In fact, I believe this is the first time ever that anyone has bundled a communications client directly onto the operating system across all SKUs." He continued, "We're going out with their Consumer line. The good news is that it represents an all-in-one where we eliminate any kind of download/install scheme that I think the mainstream video/chat/conferencing market has suffered from."

Since Dell works on a June-to-June calendar for major software changes to their computers, Dell PCs this month should start to come pre-bundled with the SightSpeed communications client. Eric explained, "We've optimized Dell Video Chat powered by Sightspeed for the new Dell hardware that is going out. That includes all the embedded web cams, array mics, and we've designed a user interface that has gone through some pretty extensive user testing or competive bake-offs as far as usability is concerned. We've emerged on the eve of the release with a product that we're very happy with."

That's me doing a quick video test. Will try a 9-party 4-party video conference soon. (Note, the SightSpeed Business offering has 9-way video. I mixed up the two since SightSpeed also sent me a SightSpeed Business account to test)

Dell Video Chat is the equivalent to SightSpeed PLUS. Dell users get free 4-way multi-party calling, unlimited free calls to other SightSpeed users, multi-party text-chat (up to 4), video mail, long video mail record time, and it comes pre-bundled with 5 minutes of PSTN calling. You can also use the free VoIP minutes even if don't have webcam.

Dell is doing away of Desktop icons entirely and promoting Dell Dock. The Dell Dock is essentially Dell's answer to task-based launching of programs and applications. It's really similar to the Mac launcher that resides at the bottom of your screen. Here's a screenshot of Dell Dock:
Dell Dock (top of screenshot) where SightSpeed has premium placement in the Communications section of Dell Dock

In fact, the first dock item is "communications" and the Dell Video Chat is co-located with "email" which launches Outlook or whatever email client you are using. This gives SightSpeed very high visibility on the Desktop of Dell PCs and laptops. It's very similar to Apple's popular application launcher.

Additionally, Dell Video Chat is also a shot across the bow of Apple iChat. Apple iChat can only run on Apple environments where as SightSpeed can run on Apple, Windows, and Linux.
The native video frame specs are 320x240 30fps using the H.263 video codec throughout. Currently, if you change your bandwidth setting to 1.5Mbps up&down you'll automatically go to 640x480 video. You can increase the bandwidth further and the video will adjust accordingly. Eric proudly explained, "As much as you want to pump through our system the quality will continue to increase." 

SightSpeed vs Skype
This is unlike Skype's HD video feature which as my Skype High Quality (HQ) Video review explains, requires specific Logitech webcams and specific PC hardware requirements - namely dual-core PCs to get higher resolutions. Score one for SightSpeed!  I also like that SightSpeed is not proprietary and leverages industry standards such as SIP & H.263. Like Skype, SightSpeed also supports wideband audio.

I inquired how they price compare with SkypeOut per-minute rates and Eric told me, "We're actually lower. We come in about 2/10ths of a cent lower to both the U.S. & Canada and 3/10ths of a cent lower to the UK. When we're rolling out Dell Video Chat and prestocked the minutes, this was a very conscious decision for people to give us a try and check out what we have to offer. Not just from the video chat perspective which we think is great story to tell, but this may be the untold story is also our PSTN side of the phone."

Dell Video Chat sample 4-party multi-party video conference

The Internet Connection screen where you can set your bandwidth and even tweak your MTU

Dell Video Chat powered by SightSpeed will include the following features:
• A completely redesigned and streamlined Dell user interface
• Free, unlimited video chat worldwide
• Free, unlimited voice chat worldwide
• Free, unlimited text chat worldwide
• 4-Way Group Chat (voice, video or text)
• Low-rate worldwide calling to ordinary phones - 2 cents per minute in the United States and Canada
• 5 minutes of free phone calling is included with every Dell system
• The ability to purchase custom phone numbers and area codes
• Presence indicators
• Message Center: All video/voice calls Inbox
• High-quality Video Mail
• Video Mail recording of up to 3 minutes
• Storage of an unlimited number of Video Mail messages
• Notification of missed calls and receipt of Voice/Video mail and e-mail
• Reporting of Video/Voice call history

Other SightSpeed attributes include:

• the highest-quality, full-motion, 30-frames-per-second video with clear audio and no delay;
• superior video and audio experience with low to no latency over variable bandwidth conditions;
• patented technology that provides superior rate control for any bandwidth, handling of firewalls and video-codec optimization.

Dell Video Chat's Text Chat screen


Voice dialing screen

I played a "welcome / promo" Dell video chat message which essentially is your 1st Video Mail.



Welcome screen when you first launch Dell Video Chat

The application is pre-installed on Dell systems and is activated with one mouse click. SightSpeed has also made it easy for users to share the application with their friends and family who can simply download the "invitee" client program by visiting http://www.sightspeed.com/dellvideochat.

"Dell went out and got the best-of-breed video-communications service--SightSpeed--to be included in their newest laptops. This is as easy-to-use, wherever-you-go as it gets," said SightSpeed CEO Peter Csathy. "Their stamp of approval means that video conferencing is becoming a part of everyday communications and they picked the best company to provide it."

The consumer 4-way multiparty video for free is actually a $9.95/month value that Dell users get for free when they purchase a Dell system. Non-Dell users would have to pay $9.95/month for the 4-party multiparty video and other "SightSpeed Plus" features.

"Dell is excited about the opportunity to provide enhanced video chat services to our customers," said Dell's Michelle Pearcy, director, Global Client Software Marketing. "The partnership with SightSpeed allows our customers to quickly and easily communicate with friends and family in a variety of ways by combining both text and video chat features into a simplified customer communication experience."

Lastly, I'm going to include an edited version of my interview with Eric Quanstrom as a podcast. (there was some stuff off-the-record) Some interesting thoughts on the Dell partnership, his views on SightSpeed & their competitive advantages, and more. Download it here.

Just got a popup toast icon in my current version of Windows Live Messenger saying that a new version of Windows Live Messenger was out - namely Windows Live Messenger 8.5 which has been in beta.

The previous (non-beta) version was Windows Live Messenger 8.1. In the new version, Messenger now works with Windows Live OneCare Family Safety to help you control who's on your child's list of contacts. It also has an updated look and feel and improved (VoIP) audio for video calls.

And according to Microsoft, here's some of the stuff they've added since MSN Messenger 7.0:

• Sharing Folders that let you collaborate with friends and share files, pictures, and videos
• The ability to send messages to contacts even when they're offline (they'll get your message the next time they log in)
• An easy view of your Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger contacts, all in one place
• The Roaming Identity feature that lets you log in anywhere you're online and still see your display picture, personal message, and shared folders
• Redesigned Contact Cards that let you access more data about your friends
• The ability to send an SMS message to a friend's phone

Go download Windows Live Messenger 8.5 here

Update: A reader points out that v8.5 came out in late 2007 and that Windows Live Messenger v9.0 is currently in private beta. He writes,"looks like you just got one of the security upgrade prompts to update to the latest version."

I'll have to go see if I can join the privata beta

Logitech today unveiled its first Mac-compatible webcam with premium autofocus technology and Carl Zeiss optics - the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac. The new Logitech webcam of course works with iChat and Skype and features a 2-megapixel camera sensor.

The new Logitech webcam uses a voice coil motor for its autofocus system, instead of a stepper motor. According to the news, "Focusing is fast and fluid - crisp even in extreme close-ups only 10 cm from the camera lens. Logitech's autofocus system compensates for changes in image-edge sharpness and refocuses images in less than three seconds"

What I don't get is why Logitech chooses to make operating system specfic webcams. Isn't USB supposed to be an industry standard? I should be able to take any USB device and plug it into a Mac, Windows XP, or Vista, and it should have drivers available that just work. I have plenty of headsets and USB VoIP devices that work on multiple operating systems. I just don't get the point of operating system specific webcams.

In any event, similar to the Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF I reviewed, the new Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac leverages Logitech's RightLight 2 Technology, which enables the webcam to adjust intelligently in dim or harshly backlighted situations.

Features:

• VGA-quality video at up to 30 frames per second
• the QuickCam Vision Pro records sharp video clips in the 720p high-definition (HD) video format (960-by-720 pixels).
• Complementing the style of your Mac computer, the new webcam for Mac computers presents a black-and-silver profile with a prominent built-in silver microphone.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in July. The suggested retail price to buy one in the U.S. is $129.99.

Infonetics sent me over a summary of their latest report on the unified communications (UC) market.  Infonetics Research reports that the unified communications market, which includes unified messaging and communicator software, jumped 20% sequentially in 2007, following a 19% increase in 2006. Similarly, the IP contact center (IPCC) market grew 24% in 2007, after a whopping 26% increase in 2006. Infonetics' report, Unified Communications and IP Contact Centers, shows that together, UC and IPCC sales grew 22% to hit $1.05 billion worldwide in 2007, and healthy growth is expected through at least 2011.

Interestingly, Microsoft jumped to first place in worldwide communicator revenue market share in 2007. Looks like Microsoft OCS 2007 deployment blues aren't so blue after all!

Another interesting aspect of the report is that it states the transition from TDM to IP is causing the IP contact center market to grow more rapidly than the overall contact center market. They've already optimized TDM to death with predictive dialers, ACDs, workforce management software, etc, so it makes sense that the contact center is now looking to unified communications as a new way of increasing communications efficiencies, agent productivity, etc.

"As a key component of unified communications, sales of communicator software clients are taking off. The Nortel/Microsoft alliance drove growth in 2007, and Microsoft captured close to half the communicator market. Market share will likely bounce around in the coming years, as vendors from different backgrounds try to establish themselves as the leader in the nascent UC market and promote their offerings aggressively," said Matthias Machowinski, Infonetics Research's directing analyst for enterprise voice and data.

Other report highlights:

• Sales of the relatively small communicator segment skyrocketed 164% from 2006 to 2007
• Unified messaging makes up the bulk of the UC market, and is led by Avaya, with more than 1/3 of the market
• Avaya also leads the IP contact center market by far, with more than half of worldwide revenue; Cisco is 2nd

Today, SightSpeed will announce a significant upgrade to SightSpeed Business, which was launched last fall. The new version offers simultaneous 9-way video and text chat. I'm a huge fan of SightSpeed, which doesn't get nearly the amount of attention that Skype gets yet has some features Skype lacks. Check out my 2006 review of SightSpeed 5.0. It was impressive then (2 years ago), with cool Slingbox functionality, and support for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so I'm sure it's much better now.

Certainly with 9-way video and text chat that puts SightSpeed in a league of its own. I'm not aware of any 100% software-based videoconferencing solutions that scale up to 9-way videoconferencing. I'd be curious to know what video codec SightSpeed is using to keep bandwidth relatively low. Also, are they using a centralized server/MCU to mux the 9 video streams and then send the muxed video to the 9 participants? Or is it 100% peer-to-peer (P2P)?

If it is P2P, then each PC/Mac/Linux SightSpeed user has to send their video (& audio) to 8 other SightSpeed users. Assuming 200kbps per video/audio stream that's 8 X 200kbps = 1.6Mbps of upstream & downstream bandwidth required per user. DSL users are often limited to just 512kbps or even 256kbps upstream. I know SightSpeed uses SIP and is a big proponent of P2P SIP. Well, I came across an article where Aron Rosenberg, Founder & CTO of SightSpeed says, "SightSpeed uses central servers for the signaling and authentication protocol and Peer-to-Peer for the actual video and audio traffic." Hmmm, I guess I'll have to find out more about how this new version is able to squeeze 9 video/audio streams using P2P for high-quality videoconferencing.

In the meantime, here's a screenshot of SightSpeed 5.0 just to give you a feel for their nice interface.
 

Update: Found a screenshot of the 9-way video and some other info I thought I'd share:

In addition to the 9-way feature, SightSpeed Business includes new audio codecs, resulting in enhanced wideband audio for conferences, array mics and improved performance for Windows Vista users. Interestingly, their press release states, "While other providers of business-grade, multi-party video conferencing require dedicated, high-capacity bandwidth - often T1 and above - or a co-located server to make their systems work, SightSpeed Business requires nothing more than consumer broadband." Hmmm. So even a DSL user with a paltry 256Kbps upstream can participate in 9-way video? What sort of mysterious video compression magic are they doing? Lastly, SightSpeed Business is priced at $19.95 per user per month.